State Rep. Luxenberg: Wednesday Rally in Manchester Designed to Counter 'Sexist' Political Letter

MANCHESTER, CT — State Rep. Kelly Luxenberg said a Wednesday demonstration on the steps of Cheney Hall in response to what local Democrats are calling "sexist" remarks in a campaign letter was designed to "Focus on the wonderful achievements women have had over the years."

"And it is important to bring to the forefront statements that this is not OK," she said in a Wednesday morning phone interview with Patch. "The setting is by design. These are the same steps on which Susan B. Anthony and Isabella Beecher Hooker advocated for women's suffrage 100 years ago."

The demonstration was called in response to a letter sent to and published in the Journal Inquirer from Manchester Republican boss John Deeb that implied Luxenberg, a first-term state House member, should not be re-elected so she, "would be able to stay home with her family."

That triggered an animated response from Democratic Town Committee Chairman Mike Pohl, who said the letter's remarks were "sexist" and "out of touch."

The demonstration is slated for the steps of Cheney Hall at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Among attending with Pohl and Luxenberg were Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman; Middletown Mayor Dan Drew, state Sen. Steve Cassano; Lindsay Farrell, executive director of the Working Families Party; state Rep. Jeff Currey, state Sen. Tim Larson and Patricia Russo, Chair Emerita, Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and long time voting rights advocate.

State Senator Mae Flexer, an Eastern Connecticut Lawmaker who had co-authored a bill designed to revamp the way sexual assaults are handled at the University of Connecticut, was also there.

"The implication that women, who make up 51 percent of the population, do not have the ability to serve in public office is sexist and has no place in Connecticut," Pohl said.

Luxenberg said she was scrolling through the letter and sort of did a double-take.

"It is unfair to women everywhere to try to tell us our place is at home and it is no coincidence we have having this rally at Cheney Hall," she said. "Before I read the letter, I could not imagine taking about the same bias women had 100 year ago, but here we are."

Photo Courtesy of Kelly Luxenberg for State Rep